Meet the Staff

Fr. Sean PrinceDirector, Office of Worship

Fr. Sean M. Prince was born and raised in Norfolk, Virginia, and grew-up at Sacred Heart Church. He graduated from Norfolk Collegiate School in 1999 and went on to attend Wake Forest University, where he received a B.A. in History and Political Science in 2003.

After college, Father Prince moved to Washington D.C. and was a parishioner at the Cathedral of St. Matthew in the Archdiocese of Washington. Prior to beginning his seminary formation, Fr. Prince worked as a researcher in the field of Human Resources for the Corporate Executive Board (CEB) and later joined BearingPoint, formerly KPMG Consulting, working as an HR practitioner in Recruiting, Employee Development, and HR Strategic Planning.

Father Prince began his seminary formation in August of 2006 at Theological College at The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC, where he received his graduate degree in Theology in 2012. He spent his summer parish assignments at St. Bridget Church in Richmond ('07), St. Andrew's Church in Roanoke ('08), and a cluster in Southwest VA (’11), which included Good Shepherd in Lebanon, St. Therese in St. Paul, and St. Mary in Coeburn; his pastoral year was spent at St. Bridget Church in Richmond (Summer of ’09 to Summer of ’10). During the 2010 to 2012 academic years, Fr. Prince spent time at the Church of the Resurrection in Burtonsville, Maryland.

In addition to his parish experiences, during his time as a seminarian, Father Prince travelled to Haiti with a group of seminarians in March of 2008 to visit the Diocese of Hinche and the Maison Fortune Orphanage, which has been supported by the Maison Fortune Orphanage Foundation and the Diocese of Richmond since 2002. During the trip, he visited Port au Prince and spent time with the Missionaries of Charity. In July of 2011, Fr. Prince was sponsored by the MaryKnoll Brothers to visit Hong Kong and China, as part of the MaryKnoll’s centennial celebration of their missionary work in Hong Kong and China. He spent several days in Beijing, a week in rural China, and a few days in Hong Kong. Throughout the trip, he witnessed and experienced the Chinese culture and the Catholic Church in China.

Father Prince was ordained a priest on Saturday, June 2, 2012 at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, in Richmond, where he was also ordained as a Transitional Deacon on Saturday, February 19, 2011. His Mass of Thanksgiving was on Sunday, June 3, 2012 at Sacred Heart Church in Norfolk. Fr. Prince’s first priestly assignment was as the Parochial Vicar at St. Bede in Williamsburg and the Chaplain for the Catholic Campus Ministry at the College of William and Mary. On July 1, 2013, he became the Pastor of Immaculate Conception in Hampton.

During his time at Immaculate Conception, Fr. Prince oversaw the renovation of the parish’s kitchen. This renovation assisted with the creation of the weekly Sunday Supper, a ministry to feed those in need on the Peninsula. In addition, Fr. Prince began the Bishop Keane Institute in May, 2015; the Bishop Keane Institute brings the leading voices in Catholic thought, ministry, and education to Hampton as a way of engaging and energizing the community in Hampton Roads to participate fully in the mission of Christ’s Church. During Fr. Prince’s pastorate, the Institute hosted such individuals as George Weigel, Fr. Ron Rolheiser, Sister Helen PreJean, Dr. Carolyn Woo, Fr. James Martin, SJ, and Bishop Robert Barron.

On July 1, 2015, Bishop DiLorenzo appointed Father Prince as the part-time Director of the Office of Worship for the Diocese of Richmond. In this role, Fr. Prince serves as the Diocesan liturgical leader assisting the Bishop in his role of shaping the liturgical life and practice within the Diocese. Fr. Prince develops guidelines in matters of liturgy and collaborates with the Diocesan Liturgical Commission to assess and evaluate liturgical needs in the Diocese. In addition, he provides consultation to pastors and parish staff or committees and oversees the coordination of diocesan and Episcopal liturgies. Fr. Prince continues to serve on the Diocesan Liturgical Commission, however, as an ex-officio member.

Fr. Prince left Immaculate Conception on July 11, 2018 to became the Priest Secretary to Bishop Knestout and continue his work as the Director of the Office of Worship.

Father Prince has served as a member of the Diocesan Priest Council since 2012; the Diocesan Liturgical Commission since 2012 (serving as chair from 2013 to 2016); the Diocesan Priest’s Benefits Committee since 2012; as Chaplain for St. Mary’s Star of the Sea School in Hampton (from 2013 to 2015); on the Diocesan Pastors Advisory Committee since 2014; on the Priestly On-Going Formation Committee since 2016; on the Bishop’s Transition Committee from 2016 to 2018; and on the Bishop’s Cabinet since 2018.

In his spare time, Father Prince enjoys spending time with his family and friends, especially on the Outer Banks. He enjoys cooking, traveling, movies, and the performing arts.

Vy BartoAdministrative Assistant, Office of Worship

Vy serves a dual role with Immaculate Conception Catholic Church as the Administrative Assistant and the Catholic Diocese of Richmond as the Administrative Assistant to the Director of Worship. She grew up in the Parochial school system attending St. Pius X in Norfolk and Catholic HIgh in Virginia Beach; and finally graduating summa cum laude with a BS in Business Administration from Old Dominion University with a concentration in Management.

A "Jane of all trades", Vy has a creative flair in design work. She's a graphic designer and a photographer, which comes in handy in her duties with the Office of Worship and at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. At ICC, Vy also participates in working with the Youth Group, heads up Parish Life, Photography, and Reception ministries. Outside of the parish, Vy is active in the community with the Junior League of Hampton Roads. She lives in Hampton with her husband, Tommy and their dog, Marley.

Mission

As its mission, the Office of Worship of the Diocese of Richmond serves all who celebrate the liturgy, that they might share in the primary and indispensable source of Christian life, and do so “fully aware of what they are doing, actively engaged in the rite, and enriched by its effects.” (SC 11)

Our primary ministry is to the diocesan bishop, the principal liturgist of the local Church. With him we foster Sunday liturgy that nourishes and transforms the spiritual life of the People of God. We strive to further understanding in the areas of liturgical prayer, sacramental celebrations, and diocesan liturgies that model liturgy well-celebrated and the cultural diversity of our diocese.

We serve pastors who, at the bishop’s delegation, preside at liturgical prayer within their parishes and institutions. With them we encourage authentic liturgical prayer that is both sensitive to the needs of the People of God and faithful to the directives of the Church. We do so by offering liturgical ministry materials, formation and consultation.

Our ministry includes assistance to pastoral ministers, liturgical ministers, liturgy committees and all those responsible for preparing and implementing various liturgical rites, that the People of God may be led to authentic liturgical prayer. To these we offer resources, training and on-going formation in the art and skills of public prayer.

In this way we ultimately serve the People of God by shepherding them to “full, conscious and active participation” (SC 14) which is their right by virtue of the baptismal call.